Can closing machine



May ll, 1943. H. B. PETERSON CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 7 |f-48 46 il# BY arl* ATTORNEYS Ml? 11 1943 H. B. PETERsoN 2,318,623

CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed May 9, '1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MIL@ 02.22; BY SWW Q ML., )V-

l ATTORNEYS May 11, 1943. H. B. PETERsoN CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS May ll, 1943- H. B. PETERSON CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m o 5 N\ IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY 5 Patented May 11, 1943 CAN CLOSING MACHINE Howard B. Peterson,

San Francisco, Calif., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 9, 1940, Serial No. 334,256

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to can closing machines and the like and has particular reference to a simplified machine in which the can lifter pad is independently actuated and has no mechanical connection with the can closinghead,

the lifter pad and the closing head being operated by separate electric motors.

In the usual can closing or seaming machine the can lifter pad and the closing head are preierably mechanically interconnected and actuated and in such a machine adjustment of the lifter pad to accommodate cans of different heights is manually eifected. It has been found that where such a machine is used for a number of varying heights of cans the frequent changing of the machine to adapt it to a particular can height is Aquite a problem in a small cannery.

The present invention contemplates overcoming this diliculty by eliminating the mechanical connection between the machine closing head and the lifter pad and independently driving them with electric motors, the lifter pad motor being preferably of the high torque type. No adjustment or change over is needed for cans of varying heights when such an idea is used, thus providing a simple and exible machine for small canners.

An object, therefore, of the invention is the provision of a can closing machine wherein the can lifter device is actuated independently of the machine closing head and is free from any mechanical connection therewith so that flexibility in machine operation will result.

Another object is the provision, in such a can closing machine, of can support devices which do not require manual adjustment for can heights so that cans of varying heights may be readily closed without any preparatory setting.

Another object is the provision of a can closing machine of this character wherein the clamping effect of the lifter pad operating through the can to the closing head may be controlled to exert a predetermined pressure on the can during the closing operation independently of can height.

Another object is theprovision of such a can closing machine utilizing separate electric motors for independently actuating and controlling the operation of closing head and lifter pad.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

its bearings I4.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a can closing machine embodying the instant invention, parts being broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation and sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the can closing head used in the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electric apparatus used in the machine.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings disclose a sheet metal can closing machine which includes an independently actuated can lifter device A (Fig. 2) for lifting a can B having a loosely applied cover C into' an independently actuated seaming head unit D for sealing the cover on the can. 'Ihe lifter device and the seaming head unit are carried on a vertical column II (Figs. 1 and 2) which constitutes the main frame of the machine.

The lifter device A includes a flat horizontal lifter pad I2 (see also Fig. 1) which is secured to the upper end of a vertical rod I3 carried in a pair of spaced upper and lower bearings I4 formed in a gear casing I5. Casing I5 is bolted to the front of the column II and is disposed in a slideway I6 formed in the column. The lifter pad is formed with a guide I8 for centralizing a can A when it is manually positioned on the pad for sealing.

The lifter pad I2 is raised vertically to bring the positioned can B into the seaming head D and for this purpose is provided with a. gear rack 2| formed on a sleeve 22. The sleeve surrounds and is secured to the vertical rod I3 intermediate The rack meshes with a pinion 23 mounted on a shaft 24 carried in suitable bearings formed in a side of the gear casing I5 and in a vertical web 25 formed therein.

The shaft 24 also carries a gear 2l which meshes with a pinion 28 mounted on a shaft 29 carried in suitable bearings formed in the sides of the gear casing. This latter shaft extends through the casing web 25 and carries a large gear 3| which meshes with a driving pinion 32. The driving pinion is mounted on a driving shaft 33 which is carried in suitable bearings formed in the sides of the gear casing. This driving shaft 33 is the rotor shaft of a high torque reversible electric motor 35 which is bolted to the gear casing I5.

Hence when the motor is excited it rotates the driving pinion 32 and through it the gear train Just explained and thus raises or lowers the lifter pad i2 and the can B carried thereon relative to the seaming head unit D. The actuation of the motor is preferably effected through electric apparatus indicated in the wiring diagram in Fig. 4 which will be hereinafter explained and which includes a start and stop switch 36 which is secured to the gear casing I5. A switch lever 31 is provided on the switch for manually actuating it.

The can seaming head unit D is disposed directly above the lifter pad I2 and is located in a housing 4| which is secured to the front of the column I I and to an overhanging bracket exten;

sion 42 of the column. There are many suitable types of seaming head units used in standard closing machines which maybe used here and the instant invention is equally well adapted for use with any of these types.

The drawings show one form of seaming head unit of the character disclosed in United States Patent 1,716,618, issued June 11, 1929, to Harvey L. Bryant on Can closing machine. This head Y unit includes a vertical tubular support member 45 (Fig. 3) the upper end of which is tightly clamped in a clamp block 45 formed in the column bracket extension 42. The support member is adjustably held against vertical displacement by a locknut 41 which is threaded on the upper end of the memberv and which is carried in a locking block 43 bolted tothe bracket extension 42 and rests in a recess 49 formed therein.

The support member 45 carries a seaming head casing 5I which surrounds the lower end of the member and is fully contained in the housing 4|. The casing is secured to a ring bevel gear 52 having spider arms 53 which radiate from a central hub 54. The hub 54 contains a ball bearing 55 which is mounted on the support member 45. The ball bearing is locked in place against vertical displacement relative to the support member by an upper locknut 56 threaded on the member and by a worm 51 which is keyed on the member. l The worm is held in a xed vertical position by a lower threaded locknut 58.

The bottom of the casing 5| is formed with a central hub 6| which surrounds the lower part of the tubularsupport member 45Vand rests on a collar 62 formed on the lower end of the member. Below its collar 62 the member carries a stationary can chuck 63 which is adapted to receive the can B and its cover C when they are lifted into can closing position.

The head casing 5| is adapted to be rotated around the chuck 63. To effect such a rotation there is provided an electric motor 65 (Fig. 2) having a self-contained brake. The motor is bolted to the column II. The rotor shaft of the motor carries a bevel pinion 66 which meshes with and drives the head ring gear 52.

In this seaming head unit the seaming of the can cover C to the can B is preferably performed, while the head rotates, by an interfolding of ange parts formed on the cover and on the can. This folding operation is performed by a plurality of seaming rollers 68 (Fig. 3) which are mounted in slides 69 carried in radial slideways 1I formed in the bottom of the head casing 5|. There are preferably four of these rollers, two rst opera tion rollers and two second operation rollers and these two sets of rollers are spaced ninety degrees apart.

Each seaming roller slide 69 is connected by a link 12 to the lower end of a vertical actuating lever 13. Each lever is loosely mounted on an eccentric 14 formed on a pivot pin 15 which is carried in suitable bearings formed in the head casing 5|. The pivot pins also carry worm gears 1B which mesh with the stationary worm 51.

The upper ends of the actuating levers 13 extend above the head casing 5| and carry cam rollers 11 which operate on a stationary pattern cam 16 which surrounds the head supporting member 45 and which is secured to the overhanging bracket extension 42 of the column |I. A coiled spring 19 extending around the head and seated on grooved rollers 8| carried on the upper ends of the actuating arms, maintains the cam rollers 11 in operating engagement with the cam 18.

Hence as the seaming head rotates, the cam rollers 11 follow around the stationary pattern cam 18 and rock the actuating arms 13 in the proper direction for shifting the slides 69 toward and'away from the stationary chuck 63 so that the seaming rolls 66 will follow the contour of the chuck. y

During this rotation of the head the stationary worm 51 eiects a slow rotation of the gears 16 and this revolves the eccentric14 in the actuating arms 13 and thus brings the seaming rollers 68 into can seaming position relative to the chuck at the proper time and again shifts them out of seaming position at the end of the seaming operation. It is these motions and rollers that effect the sealing of the cover C to the can B.

A knockout plate (Fig. 3) is provided in the seaming head and this plate is located below the chuck 63 adjacent a recess 86 formed therein. The plate is secured to the lower end of a rod 81 which extends up through the middle of the head support member 45. A tip member 9| having an annular shoulder 92 is threaded to the upper end of the rod 91.

The shoulder 92 of the tip 9| normally engages the pointed inner end of a pawl 94 which is mounted on a pivot pin 95 secured ina starting switch lever 96 associated with the seaming head motor 65. The pawl is pressed outwardly toward the shoulder by a compression spring 91 which is interposed between the inner end of the pawl and a step section 98 formed in the switch lever. A setscrew 99 located in the outer end of the lever engages the step section 98 and controls outward displacement of the pawl,

The switch lever 96 is mounted on a pivot pin |0| carried in a bracket |62 formed on the clamp block 48. A tension spring |03 keeps the lever under tension and maintains the pointed end of the pawl 94 in engagement with the tip shoulder 92. One end of this spring is secured to the lever while its opposite end is connected to the bracket |02. The lever extends out over a normally open start switch |05 associated with the seaming head motor 65 and this switch is formed with a movable element |06 which is engageable by an adjustable setscrew |01 carried in the lever. The lever is also formed with a handle |06 for manual operation of the start switch if desired.

When a can B is lifted up into the seaming head unit D for sealing, its cover C first engages the knockout plate 85 and forces it up with the travel of the can toward the chuck '63 of the seaming head. This action raises the knockout plate rod 81 and its tip member 9|. As the tip moves up its shoulder 92 raises the pawl 94 and thus rocks the switch lever 96 so that the setscrew |01 engages the movable element |06 of the start switch |05. This closes the switch.

Closing of the start switch takes place just as the can and its cover are fully seated against the Lais-latas 3 seaming head chuck 63. The closing of the switch starts the seaming head motor 65 with lthe result that the seaming head begins to rotate for the can closing operation. This takes place while the lifter plate motor 35 holds the can and its cover clamped tightly against the chuck.

Near the top of the up stroke of the knockout plate rod 81 the switch lever pawl 94 rides off the shoulder 92 of the tip 9| and falls down alongside of the tip. 'I'his action permits the start switch lever 96 rto rock back into its original position and the start switcli |05 is immediately opened. In other words closing of the switch is only of momentary duration. 'I'he motors, .however, continue to operate through holding circuits. This will be fully explained in connection with a consideration of the wiring diagram in Fig. 4.

The seaming head D rotates through a predetermined number of revolutions to complete the can closing cycle, as is usual in such seaming heads, and at the completion of the cycle both the lifter pad and seaming motors cease operation. Stopping of the motors is brought about by a normally closed stop switch (F'ig. 2) which is secured to the column and which is momentarily opened by a switch arm I |2 actuated by the seaming head.

'I'he stop switch arm I I2 is mounted on a pivot pin ||3 carried in a bracket ||4 formed on the machine column The outer end of the arm carries an adjustable setscrew I |5 which is adapted to engage a movable element of the switch when the arm is actuated. 'I'he inner end of the arm projects through an opening ||1 formed in the machine column and terminates adjacent the outer surface of the seaming head casing 5|.

The inner end of the arm ||2 isy engageable at the end of the seaming cycle by a roller |2| (Fig. 3) which is carried on a leg |22 of a bell crank |23 mounted on a pivot pin |24 supported in the head casing 5|. A second arm |25 of the bell crank extends inwardly of the head casing and carries a roller |26 which is in the path of travel of a high spot |21 formed in a peripheral cam |28. The cam is carried on one of the seaming roller actuating arm pivot pins 15.

The arm |22 of the bell crank |23 is spring held against centrifugal forces so as to be disposed within the seaming head casing 5|, and as the head rotates during a seaming cycle the cam |23 is rotated by the gear 16 which is secured to its pivot pin 15. The gear 16 makes one revolution for each seaming cycle. Hence at the end of the cycle the high spot |21 of the cam |28 comes into engagement with the roller |26 on the bell crank and this rocks the latter so that its arm |22 and the roller |2| carried thereon is projected out of the head casing and into the path of the switch arm ||2. When the head makes its Alast revolution in the seaming cycle the extended roller |2| engages the switch arm and momentarily rocks it into switch opening position. This stops the motors 35, .65 and the brake on the sealing head motor 65 immediately stops further rotation of the seaming head.

The closed can is lowered from engagement with the seaming head chuck 63 by re-starting the lifter pad motor 35 in a reverse direction. As the can moves down with the descending lifter pad I2, the lknockout plate 85 follows ldown with it until the plate has reached its lower limit of travel as shown in Fig. 3. This descent of the plate moves the rod 81 and its tip 9| down into their original positions and during this descent the spring-.held switch pawl 94 remains in engagement'with the sideof the tip until the shoulder l92 comes adjacent the pawl. The pawl then snaps over the shoulder into the position shown in Fig. 3 in readiness for a subsequent operation of the seaming head starting switch.

The wiring diagram of the various electric circuits used to interconnect the motors 35, 65, as shown in Fig. 4, will now be explained. In this diagram the lifter pad motor 35 is controlled primarily by four circuits, a can raising or lifting circuit R, holding circuit S, an operating circuit T, and a can lowering or reverse circuit U. Electric energy for exciting the motor 35 is received preferably from a three phase power line which includes main lead wires |5I, |52, |53 which extend through a normally closed main service switch |54 and end at terminals |55, |56, |51 located in a receiving relay box |56.

The lifter pad motor 35 is first set in operation by the manually operated switch 36 (see also Fig. 1). This switch is formed with a movable element |6| (Fig. 4) which is attached to the switch handle 31. In the up position of the handle the movable element I6| closes against a pair of upper contacts |62, |63 and in the down position it closes against a pair of lower contacts |64, |65. When the handle is in a neutral position the movable element is out of engagement with all contacts and therefore the switch is open.

The upper contact |62 of the vlifter control switch 38 is connected by way of a wire |1| to the main energy supply terminal |56 in the relay box |58. The other upper contact |63 is connected by way of a wire |12 to a relay coil |13 and this coil is connected by a wire |14 to the main supply terminal |51. This constitutes the normally open can lift circuit R.

Hence when the lifter control switch 36 is closed in the up position as when first starting the machine after placing a can B on the lifter pad |2, electric energy from the main lead wires |5|,. |52, |53 flows through the R circuit and energizes the relay coil |13. Energization of the coil closes a series of relay switch elements |16, |11, |18. These switch elements contact with the wire terminals |55, |56, |51 and with a cooperating set of terminals |8I, |82, |83 which are connected by wires |84, |85, |86 to a torque adjusting rheostat |81. The lift motor 35 is connected to this rheostat by wires |88, |89, |98.

Closing of the relay switch elements |16, |11, |18 establishes the motor operating circuit T and hence electric energy direct from the main lead wires |5I, I 52, |53 is transmitted through the rheostat to the motor to eiect its rotation. It is this rotation of the motor that raises the lifter pad i2 and thus brings the can B and its cover C into engagement with the seaming head unit D. When fully engaged. the motor 35 stalls` since it is not suiciently powerful to overcome the resistance of the can, and this stalling action clamps can and cover tightly against the head where they remain held during the seaming operation. The clamping pressure may `be con-y trollcd by adjustment oi the motor torque through the rheostat |81.

It will be remembered that when the can and its cover near the uppermost raised position just prior to engagement with the seaming head unit D, it pushes up the knockout plate 85 and thereby momentarily closes the seaming head motor start switch |05. Closing of this switch brings Into play a starting circuit V, a holding circuit W, and a motor operating circuit X, all of which serve the seaming head motor 65. This is shown at the left in Fig. 4. These circuits preferably receive electric energy from a separate source from that of the previously described circuits. Such latter energy is transmitted over main lead wires 20|, 202, 203. These wires extend through a normally closed service switch 204 and end at terminals 205, 206, 201 located in a relay box 208.

Terminal 205 is connected by a wire 2|| to the head start switch |05. The switch is also connected by a wire 2|2 to a relay coil 2|3 which in turn is connected by a wire 2|4 to the normally closed head stop switch This stop switch is connected by a wire 2I5 to a normally` closed thermal overload switch 2 I6 which is also connected by a wire 2!1 to the lead wire terminal 206. This constitutes the starting circuit V and it is such a starting circuit that is established when the head start switch is momentarily closed.

Establishment of the head starting circuit V energizes the relay coil 2I3 and this shifts a plurality of relay Switch elements 22|, 222, 223, 224, 225 into closing position with adjacent terminal contacts, which will now be described. Switch elements 222, 223, 224, close against the main lead wire terminals 205, 206, 201 and against cooperating terminal contacts 221, 223, 229. These latter contacts are connected by wires 232, 233, 234 leading into the seaming head motor 65. Closing of these switch elements establishes the head motor operating circuit X and hence energy from the main lead wires 202, 203 is transmitted directly into the head motor for turning the lseaming head through its predetermined cycle.

The relay switch element 225 closes against a pair of terminal contacts 238, 239 located in the relay box 200. These contacts 236, 239 are connected by respective Wires 24| 242 to the contacts |62, |63 of the lifter motor switch 36. This constitutes the lifter motor holding circuit S referred to above and closing of the relay switch element 225 with its contacts 238, 239 establishes this circuit and thereby cuts out the lifter motor start switch 36 so that the lifter motor 35 will remain excited after its start switch is opened.

Since closing of the seaming head motor start switch |05 is only of momentary duration, a holding circuit is provided to maintain all the other circuits R, S, T, V, X after they have been established. This holding circuit is the circuit W and it is established by the closing of the relay switch element 22|. This element closes against a pair of contacts 245, 246. Contact 245 is connected by a Wire 241 with the main lead wire terminal 265 and contact 246 is connected by a wire 248 to the relay coil 2|3.

Such a holding circuit cuts out the head motor start switch |05 and transmits energy direct from the main lead wire 20|, through terminal 205, wire 241, contact 245, closed switch element 22|, contact 246, wire 248, coil 2|3, wire 2|4, stop switch ||I, wire 2|5, overload switch 2|6, wire 2|1, `terminal 206, returning to the main lead wire 202. Energy passing along this circuit keeps the coil 2|3 energized after the start switch |05 opens and thereby keeps the relayswitch elements in engagement with their terminal contacts.

Upon completion of the seaming cycle as hereinbefore explained, the head stop switch I| is momentarily opened and this breaks the head holding circuit W. This de-energizes the relay coil 2|3 and hence permits the relay switch ele# ments 22|, 222, 223,224, 225, to move away from their terminal contacts under spring pressure. Such an action breaks all of the remaining circuits and hence operation of both motors 35, 65 ceases. The brake in motor 65 arrests further carry-over motion of the seaming head so that it will be in its proper starting position for a subsequent seaming operation.

After breaking of the motor circuits the sealed can is moved away from the seaming head unit D by a lowering of the lifter pad |2 as hereinbefore mentioned. This is brought about by restarting the lifter motor 35 in a reverse direction. For this purpose the lifter starting switch handle 31 is moved down into the lower dotted position as shown in Fig. 1. This is the down position of the switch 36.

In this down position of the lifter motor start switch 36 its movable element |6| (at the right in Fig. 4) closes against the lower contacts |64, |65. Contact |64 is connected by a wire 25| to a relay contact 252 which in turn is connected by a wire 253 to the main lead wire terminal |55. Switch contact |65 is connected by a wire 255 to a relay coil 256. The coil is also connected by a wire 251 to a relay contact 258 which in turn is connected by a wire 259 to the main lead wire terminal |56. This constitutes the can lowering circuit U and when the starting switch element |6| connects the lower contacts |64, |65, the circuit is completed and energy fiows from the main lead wires |52, |53 into the relay coil 256 which is thereupon energized.

Energization of the relay coil 256 shifts a plurality of relay switch elements 26|, 262, 263 against contacts which connect the main lead wires |5|, |52, |53 with the lift motor 35. The motor is thus excited and rotates in reverse order and the lifter pad |2 moves down. A consideration of the wire connections necessary to cornplete kthe motor circuit follows.

Relay switch element 26| closes against the terminal contact 252 and a cooperating contact 265 which is connected by a wire 266 to the relay contact |03, and thence by way of the motor lead wire |90. Relay switch element 262 closes against the terminal contact 250 and a cooperating contact 261 which is connected by a wire 268 to the relay contact |82 and thence by way of the motor lead wire |88. Relay switch element 263 closes against a pair of contacts 21|, 212. Contact 21| is connected by a wire 213 to the main lead wire terminal |51 and contact 212 is connected by a wire 214 to the relay contact |8| which joins with the'motor lead wire |69. This therefore completes the motor circuit through its three phase wire leads.

When the descending lifter pad |2 reaches its original lowermost position further movement is arrested by engagement with the upper rod bearing |4 and the lifter pad is brought to a sudden stop. This stalls the motor 35. The switch 36 may then be manually opened to cut off the current and this de-energizes the relay coil 256 and thus breaks the motor reverse circuits. This completes the cycle of the machine operation and the sealed can is thereupon removed from the lifter pad to make way for the next can to be closed.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can closing machine, the combination of a rotatable seaming head including a chuck for securing covers to cans to close them, a support movable relative to said head for supporting a can to be closed, a high torque reversible electric motor, gearing directly connecting said motor and said support, means to operate said motor to cause said support to cla-mp and hold the can against said chuck during the can closing operation so that cans of various heights may be readily closed without adjustment of said support, and means for varying the torque of said motor to obtain a predetermined pressure on the can during the closing operation.

2. In a can closing machine, the combination of a rotatable seaming head including a chuck for securing covers to cans to close them, an electric head motor for rotating said head through a can closing cycle, a, support movable relative to said head for supporting a can to be closed, a reversible high torque electric motor geared directly to said support for actuating the latter to bring the can thereon into engagement with said chuck and to remove the closed can therefrom, electric devices connecting said motors for maintaining said torque motor in actuation during the operation of the head motor, said torque motor pressing the can against said chuck with a predetermined pressure and said head motor rotating said head While the can is being closed, and electric means operable by said head at the completion of said can closing cycle to stop `)peration of both of said motors.

3. In a can closing machine having a rotatable seaming head for securing can covers to cans to close the same and having means for rotating said head, the combination of a support movable relative to said head for holding a can to be closed, means for moving said support toward the head to carry a can of any one of various heights into closing position relative to the head and for holding the can in said position during a can closing cycle, means included in said head and engageable by a can on said support when the latter is in can closing position for actuating said head rotating means, to rotate the head through a can closing cycle to secure a cover to the can, and means for moving said support and the closed can thereon away from said seaming head.

4. In a can closing machine, the combination of a rotatable seaming head for securing can covers to cans to close the same, means for rotating said head, a can support movable relative to said head for holding cans to be closed, a high torque electric reversible motor geared directly to said support for moving the latter toward and away from the head to carry a can into and out of closing position relative thereto, means responsive to the movement of a can as it is brought into can closing position by said support for actuating said rotating means to institute rotation of the head for a can closing cycle to secure a cover to the can, and electric devices energized by the actuation of said rotating means for holding said motor and said head rotating means in operation during the can closing cycle.

HOWARD B. PETERSON 

